Liberty County, Florida

Liberty County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,974, making it the least populous county in Florida. Its county seat is Bristol. Liberty County is the only dry county in Florida. Lafayette County prohibits bars, but not retail sale of beer.

The Apalachicola National Forest occupies half the county.

History
Liberty County was created in 1855 and is named after the American ideal of liberty.

Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 843 sqmi, of which 836 sqmi is land and 7.6 sqmi (0.9%) is water. The county is bordered on the west by the Apalachicola River.

Adjacent counties

 * Gadsden County - northeast
 * Wakulla County - east
 * Leon County - east
 * Franklin County - south
 * Gulf County - southwest
 * Calhoun County - west
 * Jackson County - northwest

National protected area

 * Apalachicola National Forest (part)

Demographics
As of the 2020 United States census, there were 7,974 people, 2,513 households, and 1,602 families residing in the county.

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,021 people, 2,222 households, and 1,553 families residing in the county. The population density was 8 /mi2. There were 3,156 housing units at an average density of 4 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 76.41% White, 18.43% Black or African American, 1.81% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 2.08% from other races, and 1.13% from two or more races. 4.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. More than 10% of the population are Mormons.

There were 2,222 households, out of which 34.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.80% were married couples living together, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.10% were non-families. 25.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.80% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 37.70% from 25 to 44, 21.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 144.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 159.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,840, and the median income for a family was $34,244. Males had a median income of $22,078 versus $22,661 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,225. About 16.80% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.30% of those under age 18 and 24.30% of those age 65 or over.

Politics
Liberty County has shifted rapidly towards the Republican Party in the 21st century. As of April 26, 2023, Republicans maintain an advantage in voter registration, which is the case in all but four counties in the Panhandle. As recently as September 30, 2016, Liberty County had 3,399 registered Democrats and just 722 registered Republicans.

Liberty County is run by a board of five county commissioners, each elected at-large. The following is a list of the commissioners with the number representative of his/her district:
 * 1) Dewayne Branch
 * 2) Hannah Causseaux
 * 3) Jim Johnson
 * 4) Doyle Brown
 * 5) Scott Phillips

The remaining elected officials are the constitutional officers and the school board members.
 * County Judge: Kenneth Hosford
 * Clerk of the court: Catherine Brown
 * Sheriff: Buddy Money
 * Property Appraiser: Cindy Walker
 * Tax Collector: Marie Goodman
 * Supervisor of Elections: Grant Conyers
 * Superintendent of Schools: Kyle Peddie

Library
Liberty County is part of the Northwest Regional Library System (NWRLS), which serves Gulf and Bay Counties as well.

Town

 * Bristol

Census-designated places

 * Hosford
 * Lake Mystic
 * Sumatra

Unincorporated communities

 * Estiffanulga
 * Orange
 * Rock Bluff
 * Telogia
 * White Springs
 * Wilma
 * Woods

Transportation
Much like Calhoun County, Liberty County has no Interstates or U.S. Highways, just state roads.
 * [[Image:Florida 20.svg|20px]] FL State Road 20 is the main west-to-east route that runs east from the Apalachicola River at the Calhoun/Liberty County line to the Ochlockonee River at the Liberty/Leon County line, passing through Bristol and Hosford.
 * [[Image:Florida 65.svg|20px]] FL State Road 65 is the main south-to-north route running from the Franklin/Liberty County line at Sumatra to the Liberty/Gadsden County line north of Hosford.
 * [[Image:Florida 12.svg|20px]] FL State Road 12 is a southwest-to-southeast route running from Liberty County in the southwest to Havana in the northeast. It also contains a county extension into Levy County.
 * [[Image:Florida 267.svg|25px]] FL State Road 267 briefly runs alongside state road 20 until it splits away shortly after crossing the Leon/Liberty county line and heads north towards Quincy.

Government links/Constitutional offices

 * Liberty County Board of County Commissioners
 * Liberty County Supervisor of Elections
 * Liberty County Property Appraiser
 * Liberty County Election's Office
 * Liberty County Tax Collector
 * Liberty County Emergency Management

Special districts

 * Liberty County School Board
 * Liberty County High School
 * Northwest Florida Water Management District

Judicial branch

 * Liberty County Clerk of Courts
 * Public Defender, 2nd Judicial Circuit of Florida serving Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla counties
 * Office of the State Attorney, 2nd Judicial Circuit of Florida
 * Circuit and County Court for the 2nd Judicial Circuit of Florida

Tourism links

 * Liberty County Chamber of Commerce